Matthew chambers



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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MATTHEW CHAMBERS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SKIRT-SUPPORTER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 24,720, dated July 12, 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MATTHEW CHAMBERS, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a eertain new and useful Improvement in Skirt- Supporters; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eXact description of the same, reference being made to the annexed drawing, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure I is a perspective view of my supporter. Fig. II is a sectional view illustrating the manner of wearing the same, and similar letters indicate similar parts throughout the figures.

This invention is an improvement in a ladys dress whereby the skirts may be supported upon the hips in a manner which shall relieve the body from compression around the waist, as well as from the great thickness of the numerous skirts around that part of the body. It is well known that this thickness of clothing is injurious to the health of the wearer, and hence many devices have been resorted to in order that the skirts should be properly supported without any deleterious result. That the method I have invented effects this in a remarkable degree will be evident from the following description thereof.

Around the body is fitted a band (a) of varying breadth, being narrowest at the sides or upon the hips, and extending down to some distance in front and at the back. The upper line of this is straight, or nearly so, and is at the place of the lower line of the waist, as shown at (b) in the sectional Fig. II. The back of this band is strengthened with whalebones, as shown at (C), and

is made generally to lit to the form at that part. The front portion is also similarly thus constructed the band has a close resemblance to the lower part of the corset usually worn. To the upper edge of it I attach a frame of springs (e), similar in construction to the upper part of a hooped skirt, except that the framework must be more close, and capable of supporting` the weight of all the dress without being broken down. The front ends of its hoops are secured to the sides of the broad part of the band (a), as at (d) in Fig. I. The framework is generally circular in forni, if seen in a top view, although the opening where it closes around the waist is not central but is nearly tangent to the front edge of the general circle, as is clearly seen in Fig. I. Vhen the apparatus thus formed is worn, it will afford a perfect support for any number of skirts that may be desired, and without involving the necessity of bringing any of them into contact with the waist, since if each of those has an opening at all smaller than the spread of the supporter, they cannot fall oli". The bearing surface of the band (a) is upon those parts of the body which are enlarging generally in size from the waist, while the amount of surface upon which it bears is so large that the pressure is slightupon any part.

Combining with and securing to a corset band extending in the rear or in the rear and front downward from the waist to clasp the body around the hips, of the wearer, the framework of a skirt or bustle when said framework is composed of hoops disconnected and fastened in front or thereabout, substantially as described and for the purposes set forth herein.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

. MATTHET CHAMBERS.

Witnesses 2 S. H. MAYNARD, GEORGE H. MOTT. 

